Assistant Fire Chief
About The Position
Interested in serving as a senior fire service leader, guiding operational excellence, and protecting a diverse community of more than 85,000 residents? Upper Darby Township is seeking a highly qualified and experienced Assistant Fire Chief to serve as a key executive leader within the Upper Darby Township Fire Department. This appointed position plays a vital role in shaping the department’s strategic direction, ensuring operational readiness, and providing command-level leadership at emergency incidents. The Assistant Fire Chief works closely with the Fire Chief and serves as Acting Fire Chief in the Chief’s absence, making this an exceptional opportunity for a seasoned fire officer ready to operate at the highest level of municipal fire service leadership. The Assistant Fire Chief provides oversight and leadership across major functional areas of the department, which may include Operations, Training, Administration, or Fire Prevention, while supervising and mentoring Deputy Chiefs and senior officers. The role includes supporting personnel management and labor relations, contributing to budget development and policy implementation, responding to emergency incidents within the Incident Command System, and providing command-level oversight at complex, multi-agency incidents. The Assistant Fire Chief also plays a central role in training and professional development for both career and volunteer personnel and, as assigned, supports community risk reduction initiatives through fire prevention, inspections, investigations, public education, and engagement with Township leadership and community partners.
Requirements
- Minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible fire service experience
- Five (5) years of supervisory experience
- Demonstrated success operating in a combination fire department environment
- Significant fireground command experience
- Ability to lead within a collective bargaining environment, including experience with labor-management relations
- NFPA Firefighter I and II
- Hazardous Materials Operations
- NFPA Fire Service Instructor I
- NFPA 1021 – Fire Officer II
- NIMS/ICS 100, 200, 300, 400, 700, and 800
- Advanced knowledge of fireground strategy and tactics
- Strong leadership and communication skills
- Ability to develop policies, deliver training, manage complex initiatives, and represent the department professionally
Nice To Haves
- Master’s Degree in Public Administration, Fire Administration, or a related field
- Chief Fire Officer (CPSE) credential
- Graduation from the National Fire Academy Executive Officer Program
- Additional certifications such as Fire Officer III, Fire Inspector, Fire Investigator, and EMT-B
Responsibilities
- Shaping the department’s strategic direction
- Ensuring operational readiness
- Providing command-level leadership at emergency incidents
- Serving as Acting Fire Chief in the Chief’s absence
- Providing oversight and leadership across major functional areas of the department, which may include Operations, Training, Administration, or Fire Prevention
- Supervising and mentoring Deputy Chiefs and senior officers
- Supporting personnel management and labor relations
- Contributing to budget development and policy implementation
- Responding to emergency incidents within the Incident Command System
- Providing command-level oversight at complex, multi-agency incidents
- Training and professional development for both career and volunteer personnel
- Supporting community risk reduction initiatives through fire prevention, inspections, investigations, public education, and engagement with Township leadership and community partners
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Executive
